TUSCALOOSA _ When University of Alabama running back Mark Ingram accumulated 246 rushing yards against South Carolina and became a viable candidate for national player of the year awards including the Heisman Trophy, something else was going on with the Crimson Tide offense.

Things clicked for James Carpenter, the junior-college transfer who stepped in at left tackle.

"He's really come a long way," senior guard Mike Johnson said. "Really had to talk him through the Virginia Teach game and talk him through it as best I could.

"Right about the second quarter of the South Carolina game, we were running a couple of power plays and at one point his footwork sort of came together. We got into the film room and he was, 'Yeah, I get it now.' We ended up running the ball the rest of the way and really started having success on the ground."

Alabama ran for 264 yards against South Carolina and has averaged 282.5 rushing yards the past two games. Meanwhile, except for the two against reserve players last week, sacks have slowed to a trickle since playing the Gamecocks with just one against LSU.

"He's always had the talent, he's always had the athleticism, just getting the scheme and getting used to the speed at the same time is so difficult," junior quarterback Greg McElroy said. "Practicing against Deaderick and Marcell Dareus can be tough, I think that helped him.

"James has done a super job."

Players say they also see a difference in practice as well, and not just with Carpenter.

"They clicked pretty well," Deaderick said about the line. "They had some rough spots while trying to figure each other out, but gelled pretty well."

Historical perspective

One of the key statistics in Ingram's pursuit of the Heisman Trophy is yards after contact. While the sophomore has 1,399 rushing yards and 225 receiving yards, for a 1,624 total with three games to play, he's been credited with 885 yards after the initial hit (54.5 percent).

When Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 after switching from fullback to tailback, he had 1,744 rushing yards, many by running over defenders, of which it was estimated 800 yards were after contact.

Friday has been declared Mark Ingram Day in his hometown of Flint, Mich.

"The Heisman Trophy would mean a lot for Flint," former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves told the Flint Journal. "It's just a bright light on the city and all of the tough times we've been going through. We all just gotta come out and support him."

Several government and school officials, community members, business owners and Flint-area athletes gathered Tuesday at Genesys Athletic Club to announce a local "Ingram for Heisman" push. Several restaurants will show Alabama's game at Auburn and sell "Ingram for Heisman" t-shirts.

"He never has a negative remark about anybody, he's always a team player," said Art Johnson, Ingram's grandfather, who played football at Michigan State and in the Canadian Football League. "I knew he had talent, but I didn't want to tell him that because I didn't want it to go to his head. His dad was the same way, but I'd tell his dad, 'He's better than you and I, period.'"

Smart up for Broyles Award

Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has been nominated for the Broyles Award for national assistant coach of the year.

After giving up just 84 yards to Chattanooga, the Tide tops the nation in total defense by giving up an average of 225.18 yards per game. It also ranks second in both scoring (9.91 points) and rushing defense (70.55), and fifth in pass defense (154.64).

Both coaches are preaching that Friday will be a physical game. "That's what the game is going to come down to, the physicality on both sides of the ball," Auburn's Gene Chizik said. "Everyone needs to understand the game does not get won or loss based on reputation," Saban said. "Our players need to be ready to play a very physical game because most of the time the team that is most physical will win the game."

Senior cornerback Javier Arenas was named to the SEC Community Service Team. According to the release: "Arenas has volunteered more than 50 hours of community service throughout the Tuscaloosa community. He has spent time in the local school systems, speaking to children about the dangers of bullying and the positive effects of team work. He has also attended birthday parties of physically challenged children and reached out with phone calls to children battling cancer. He is also involved with Project Angel Tree."

Alabama practiced earlier than usual Wednesday and players whose families live within a two-hour drive were allowed to go home for dinner. Saban had 17 players heading to his house to celebrate Thanksgiving. As for the shortened week, he said the team practiced "Ok. It's a little bit of an adjustment."

Practice was closed to reporters. "We don't really have any injuries to speak of," Saban said. "We have a couple of guys nicked up, but everyone practiced today."

Saban took time during his press conference to wish fans and everyone associated with the program a happy Thanksgiving. "It's a holiday that sometimes gets overlooked, but it is a time to have gratitude for all that we have," he said. "I know that we all have a lot to be thankful for."